Panic Disorder Research Articles

Potential impacts of AluYa5 (ACE & PROGINS) and AluYb8 (MUTYH) insertions in panic disorder

Objective: The human genome contains numerous active transposable elements (TEs), including the inserts of young Alus such as AluYa5 and AluYb8. The rapid, human lineage-specific evolution of brain size may be influenced by natural selection and the genomic variation of TEs, which can act as catalysts of evolution. Given their potential effects on human brain development, Alu elements may also be relevant in exploring complementary approaches for psychiatric disorders. This study analyzed the potential impacts of three specific Alu insertions (AluYa5-ACE, AluYa5-PROGINS, and AluYb8-MUTYH) on the susceptibility to panic disorder (PD). Materials and Methods: Alu insertions were determined with Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) method in 120 PD patients and 120 healthy control individuals and analyzed with logistic regression. The associations of the investigated Alus with both categorical and quantitative demographic-clinical variables including the Panic Disorder Severity Scale (PDSS) were analyzed using Fisher's exact and Kruskal-Wallis tests. Results: AluYa5-PROGINS and AluYb8-MUTYH did not show an association with panic disorder risk. For AluYa5-ACE, a statistically significant association was determined; logistic regression analysis proved the highly protective effect (47.9%) of I/D genotype against PD compared with D/D genotype (p=0.030, OR=0.521, 95% CI=0.290-0.937). Alu insertions were not associated with panic disorder severity (p>0.05). Conclusion: This is the first combined study in which the potential effects of three Alu insertions in terms of both PD susceptibility and possible association with several disease parameters were evaluated. Further studies about the roles of the Alu elements in the etiology PD are highly recommended.

Management of complex anxiety disorders-Acase for inpatient treatment?

Anxiety disorders are among the most frequent psychiatric disorders. Although the vast majority of patients in Germany are treated on an outpatient basis, anxiety disorders also play an important role in day care and inpatient care. Among other aspects, this is against the background of comorbidities, treatment-resistant courses or complications such as suicidal ideation. As part of an evaluation of the basic psychiatric documentation (BADO) data from 894 patients with anxiety disorders treated in aday care or inpatient setting in aGerman psychiatric community hospital were evaluated over aperiod of 7 years. It was found that 89% of the patients had already been treated before admission and that 70% had been under medication prior to admission: patients with panic disorder made up the largest group of patients with 48%. On the date of admission 48% of patients had been treated with aselective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) and 37% had received abenzodiazepine. Furthermore, 75% of the patients had psychiatric comorbidities. Somatic illnesses played an important role in 40% of the patients. The present results underline that asignificant proportion of patients with anxiety disorders also require inpatient or day care treatment. Most patients had been previously treated and had not responded to therapy in an outpatient setting. Possible consequences with respect to the optimization of outpatient treatment options and the need to maintain day care and inpatient resources for this patient group, are discussed.

Who and how to screen for endogenous hypercortisolism in patients with mood disorders.

A strict association exists between mood disorders and endogenous hypercortisolism, namely Cushing's syndrome (CS). Indeed, CS is characterized by a wide range of mood disorders, such as major depression, generalized anxiety, panic disorders, bipolar disorders up to psychosis, with major depression being the most frequent, with a prevalence of 50-80%, and potentially representing the clinical onset of disease. Despite this observation, the exact prevalence of hypercortisolism in patients with mood disorders is unknown and who/how to screen for endogenous hypercortisolism among patients with mood disorders is still unclear. In this context, an accurate anamnestic and clinical examination are crucial in order to identify those patients who may benefit from CS screening. In particular, the presence of specific signs and symptoms of CS, comorbidities typically associated with CS, and lack of improvement of depressive symptoms with standard treatments can further guide the decision to screen for CS. Anyhow, it is noteworthy that mood disorders represent a cause of functional activation of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, a condition formerly known as non-neoplastic hypercortisolism (NNH). The differential diagnosis between CS and NNH is challenging. Beyond anamnestic and clinical features, various tests, including measurement of daily urinary cortisol and late-night salivary cortisol, together with low dose-dexamethasone suppression test, are used for initial screening. However, considering their low accuracy, a definitive diagnosis may require a longitudinal follow-up along with second-line dynamic tests like combined dexamethasone-CRH test and desmopressin test. In conclusion, available data suggest the need for a comprehensive assessment and follow-up of individuals with mood disorders to detect possible underlying CS, considering the pitfalls in diagnosis and the overlap of symptoms with other conditions like NNH. Specialized centers with expertise in CS diagnosis and differential testing are recommended for accurate evaluation and management of these patients.

Evaluating the impact of rock climbing on mental health and emotional well-being in adolescents

BackgroundRock climbing (RC) has gained attention as a therapeutic tool in psychiatric settings that merges physical exertion with mental engagement. It has potential to enhance mental health, through improved self-efficacy and social interaction, making it a novel intervention for addressing anxiety, depression, and behavioral issues in adolescents. This study aimed to investigate the effects of RC as a physical activity on anxiety, depression, and emotional and behavioral problems in adolescents.MethodsThe current study included 57 athletes aged 14.5 ± 1.7 years and 91 adolescents aged 13.6 ± 1.2 years, matched for age and gender, who were not professionally involved in sport. In addition to the socio-demographic form, a detailed psychiatric assessment was carried out by the child psychiatrist; using the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School-Age Children Present and Lifetime Version (K-SADS-PL) to detect psychiatric conditions. The Revised Child Anxiety and Depression Scale-Child Version (RCADS-CV) and the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) were also administered to the adolescents in the study.ResultsIn the comparative analysis of the RCADS-CV outcomes between the athlete and control groups, the athletes demonstrated notably lower scores for both Separation Anxiety Disorder (SAD) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), yielding p-values of < 0.001 and 0.031, respectively. Although the mean scores for social phobia, OCD, panic disorder, and MDD were lower in the athlete group, the differences were not statistically significant (p > 0.05). In the correlation analysis, a moderately significant correlation was found between the duration of doing sport and the scale scores for SAD (p:0.010), OCD (p:0.014), and panic disorder (p:0.016). There was no significant difference between groups in terms of SDQ scores.ConclusionThese results suggest that RC, through its unique combination of physical exertion and mental focus, may offer protective benefits against certain anxiety disorders among adolescents. Further studies should be conducted to explore the potential use of RC as a preventive program for both healthy adolescents, as well as those with psychiatric disorder.

Sex Differences in the Neurobiology of Fear and Anxiety.

Although women are diagnosed with anxiety and stress-related disorders at twice the rate of men, there remains a lack of clarity around how to enhance treatment within each sex to reduce disparate rates of anxiety. However, in recent years, a growing literature has identified neural, cognitive, and physiological mechanisms that contribute to sex differences in fear and anxiety, with the promise of informing tailored treatment approaches. Here, we review recent findings, focusing on human studies among healthy populations as well as among patients with generalized anxiety, social anxiety disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, and panic disorder. The literature reveals nuanced differences in the types of stimuli that preferentially evoke anxiety and stress responses in women and men, as well as sex differences in threat neurocircuitry that mediates the behavioral, physiological, and subjective components of fear and anxiety.

Liquid Biopsy-Based Detection and Response Prediction for Depression.

Proactively predicting antidepressant treatment response before medication failures is crucial, as it reduces unsuccessful attempts and facilitates the development of personalized therapeutic strategies, ultimately enhancing treatment efficacy. The current decision-making process, which heavily depends on subjective indicators, underscores the need for an objective, indicator-based approach. This study developed a method for detecting depression and predicting treatment response through deep learning-based spectroscopic analysis of extracellular vesicles (EVs) from plasma. EVs were isolated from the plasma of both nondepressed and depressed groups, followed by Raman signal acquisition, which was used for AI algorithm development. The algorithm successfully distinguished depression patients from healthy individuals and those with panic disorder, achieving an AUC accuracy of 0.95. This demonstrates the model's capability to selectively diagnose depression within a nondepressed group, including those with other mental health disorders. Furthermore, the algorithm identified depression-diagnosed patients likely to respond to antidepressants, classifying responders and nonresponders with an AUC accuracy of 0.91. To establish a diagnostic foundation, the algorithm applied explainable AI (XAI), enabling personalized medicine for companion diagnostics and highlighting its potential for the development of liquid biopsy-based mental disorder diagnosis.

A taxometric analysis of panic disorder

ABSTRACT Panic disorder is costly, and while evidence-based interventions for panic disorder are effective, obtaining a diagnosis often precludes access to such treatments. This is problematic because the categorical diagnosis of panic disorder (i.e. “you have it, or you don’t”) supported by modern diagnostic manuals contradicts empirically supported dimensional models of panic disorder. Taxometric analyses, which test the dimensional or categorical latent structure of constructs, have consistently revealed dimensional latent structures when applied to other anxiety disorders and panic-related processes, but taxometric analyses have never been applied to panic disorder. To address this gap in the literature, three nonredundant taxometric procedures were applied to seven theoretically-relevant indicators of panic disorder derived from Panic Disorder Severity Scale data collected from 663 participants recruited via Amazon Mechanical Turk. Simulated comparison plots and objective fit indices were also evaluated. The collective results provided consistent empirical support for a dimensional model of panic disorder, with an overall mean CCFI score of .39. The implications of the present findings for the measurement, assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of panic disorder are discussed.

Prevalence of anxiety disorders among visitors at a military primary health center in UAE

ABSTRACT Background: Anxiety disorders are common. However, individuals suffering from anxiety disorders often do not seek treatment. These disorders impose a high individual and societal burden, especially on military personnel and their families, and place a significant burden on healthcare systems as care is often sought from primary care physicians rather than specialized professionals. This study was undertaken to determine the prevalence and correlates of anxiety among visitors at a Military Primary Health Center. Results: Anxiety disorders were high in our study population. Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) was the most common, while social phobia was less prevalent. 72.5% were 18-40 years old and 63.5% were males. 68% were military personnel, 23% were military personnel family, and the rest were retired. The most common symptoms were sleep disturbances (60.4%), irritability (55%), and restlessness (51.4%). GAD, specific phobia, and panic disorder were more likely in divorced people, and chronic diseases were more likely in people suffering from GAD. Conclusions: The prevalence of anxiety disorders was considerably higher among visitors at a Military Primary Health Center due to the high stress levels and occupational difficulties associated with an unstable social and family life. Counseling services and follow-up of diagnosed cases should be available at the primary health care level for improved healthcare delivery by the primary care or family health physicians.

A Series of Panic Disorder Cases Treated with Detached Mindfulness

A Series of Panic Disorder Cases Treated with Detached Mindfulness

Characteristics of incident benzodiazepine recipients among US veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder.

In an effort to expedite the publication of articles, AJHP is posting manuscripts online as soon as possible after acceptance. Accepted manuscripts have been peer-reviewed and copyedited, but are posted online before technical formatting and author proofing. These manuscripts are not the final version of record and will be replaced with the final article (formatted per AJHP style and proofed by the authors) at a later time. While benzodiazepine prescribing among veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) declined substantially in the Veterans Health Administration over the past decade, little is known about current incident prescribing. Our objective was therefore to describe patient, provider, facility, and prescribing characteristics among veterans with PTSD who were incident benzodiazepine recipients in 2022 and contrast these to the characteristics for incident recipients in 2012. This retrospective observational study included all veterans with PTSD who received an incident benzodiazepine prescription during calendar year 2022 and separately for 2012. The distribution of patient, provider, facility, and benzodiazepine prescribing characteristics was contrasted between years. Stratified subanalyses were conducted by potential non-PTSD benzodiazepine indication, including anxiety and sleep disorders. A total of 28,310 (6.6%) incident benzodiazepine recipients were identified in 2012, which decreased to 16,776 (1.9%) incident recipients in 2022. The proportion of initial prescriptions written for a days' supply of 30 or more days decreased from 75.6% to 51.7%, and the proportion who received a second prescription within 6 months decreased from 68.7% to 53.5%. The proportion of patients with diagnoses for potential benzodiazepine indications also increased, including for generalized anxiety disorder (15.1% increase), obsessive compulsive disorders (0.6% increase), panic disorder (6.7% increase), and sleep disorders (22.9% increase). As incident benzodiazepine prescribing among veterans with PTSD decreased over the past decade, so did the volume of drug dispensed and duration of therapy, while the prevalence of documented prescriptions for non-PTSD indications increased.

The prevalence and risk of anxiety and depression in polycystic ovary syndrome: an overview of systematic reviews with meta-analysis.

To summarize the pooled prevalence rates of anxiety and depression in women with polycystic ovary syndrome. An overview of systematic reviews with meta-analysis was conducted. The CINAHL, Embase, PsycINFO, and PubMed databases were searched up to April 22, 2024. The methodological quality of systematic reviews was assessed using AMSTAR 2. The degree of overlap between reviews was analyzed by calculating the corrected covered area. Ten systematic reviews were selected. Regarding anxiety disorders, the pooled prevalence of panic disorder, social phobia, and anxiety disorders without specifying the type of disorder were 4%, 5%, and 16.9%, respectively. This prevalence was higher in depressive disorders, reaching 34.8%. Anxiety symptoms were very prevalent in women with PCOS, although the prevalence varied depending on the self-reported questionnaire used: the Hamilton Anxiety Scale 69.4%, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale 41.5%, and the Self-rating Anxiety Scale 32.4%. Additionally, the highest prevalence of depression symptoms was associated with the Beck Depression Inventory 46.0%, followed by the Self-rating Depression Scale 39.2%, and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, which ranged from 31% to 33.8%. Meta-analyses found mainly anxiety and depression symptoms and disorders are prevalent in women with PCOS. Meta-analyses also showed women with PCOS had a higher risk of having anxiety disorders, and depression symptoms than women without PCOS. • Anxiety symptoms were prevalent, although the prevalence varied depending on the self-reported questionnaire. • The highest prevalence of depression symptoms was associated with the Beck Depression Inventory (46.0%). • The pooled prevalence of anxiety disorders without specifying the type of disorder was 16.9%.

Therapeutic Applications of Xenon (Literature Review).

Introduction: Xenon is a noble gas with unique properties that make it an attractive anesthetic agent. In addition to its anesthetic and analgesic effects, xenon has demonstrated organ-protective properties in preclinical studies, suggesting potential therapeutic applications beyond anesthesia. This review aims to systematically evaluate the available clinical evidence on the therapeutic use of xenon, focusing on its effects on various organ systems. Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted in medical databases including PubMed, Google Scholar, Cochrane Library, and eLIBRARY.RU. Original clinical studies evaluating the therapeutic use of xenon were included and analyzed. Results: The review identified several areas of potential therapeutic application for xenon: 1. Neuroprotection: Xenon has shown promise in reducing neurological injury and improving outcomes in patients with conditions such as cardiac arrest, traumatic brain injury, and neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy. However, the clinical evidence remains limited, and larger randomized controlled trials are ongoing to further evaluate its efficacy. 2. Cardioprotection: Xenon has been found to attenuate myocardial injury and improve cardiac function in patients undergoing cardiac surgery or experiencing cardiac arrest, potentially through its anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic effects. 3. Addiction treatment: Inhalation of xenon has been investigated for its potential to alleviate withdrawal symptoms and cravings in patients with opioid and alcohol dependence, with some studies suggesting beneficial effects on cognitive function and mood. 4. Psychiatric applications: Preliminary evidence suggests that xenon may have anxiolytic and antidepressant properties, with potential applications in the treatment of panic disorder and other mood disorders. Conclusion: The available clinical data indicate that xenon may have therapeutic potential beyond its use as an anesthetic agent. However, further well-designed, large-scale studies are needed to establish the efficacy and safety of xenon in various clinical settings and to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of its organ-protective and psychoactive effects.

Machine learning-driven polygenic risk scores for bipolar disorder, depression, and panic disorder

Polygenic Risk Score (PRS) is a computational tech- nique that uses various genomic data to simultaneously analyze an individ- ual’s genetic risk for particular illnesses or traits. However, the traditional PRS computation has a few weaknesses, including its limited capacity to account for just a portion of trait variance, susceptibility to overfitting, and insufficient ability to discriminate among the larger population. Machine Learning (ML) methods offer a promising alternative to the traditional method by avoiding the problem of overfitting and improving accuracy. This study aims to develop an ML model for improved PRS calculation. We used the summary statistics for three mentals diseases, bipolar, depression, and panic disorder, from the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium (PGC) as a disease reference. We also obtained actual genotype data of individuals from OpenSNP, which includes both case and control samples. This data is used for predicting scores. The suggested approach, called Polygenic Risk Score Neural Network (PRSNN), calculates the PRS using weight vectors that estimate the relevance of each single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) with a particular phenotype by deep learning model as an alternative to the traditional method. This study aims to develop a machine learning model, called PRSNN, for improved calculation of Polygenic Risk Scores (PRS). The PRSNN method outperforms the conventional method in identifying individuals at risk of mental disease. A novel deep-learning approach, named as PRSNN, is proposed for generating PRSs. The results demonstrate that it outperforms the traditional method of computing PRS for complex diseases. Further upgrades for this tool are required to overcome the current limitations, including lack of validation with external data from different ancestries, which may limit the applicability of the PRSNN method across diverse populations, and the small sample size, which may affect the results.

A comparative study of comorbidities, symptom profiles, and childhood trauma in PTSD and non-PTSD trauma patients at Oslo University Hospital

Purpose To explore the differences in mental health symptom profiles, trauma profiles, childhood trauma and comorbidities in patients with PTSD and those without PTSD. Materials and methods A cross-sectional study was carried out on 110 adult patients with trauma backgrounds attending a mental health outpatient clinic in Southern Oslo, Norway. In addition to self- report questionnaires, several standardized validated diagnostic tools were used to assess mental disorders. Multiple linear regression models were used to assess the association between trauma history, the mental health symptom profile of the patients, and PTSD diagnosis. Bivariate logistic regression was used to examine if childhood trauma/adversities were associated with PTSD. Results Patients diagnosed with PTSD had significantly higher rates of comorbid major depressive disorder, panic disorder, agoraphobia disorder, and social phobia compared to those without PTSD. We also found a positive association between PTSD diagnosis and all the different mental health symptoms domains of the Symptom Checklist-90-Revised instrument. When adjusted for age, gender, education, smoking habits, immigration, relationship, and employment status, these associations persisted with varying effects. We did not find any association between PTSD and childhood trauma/adversities, however, sexual abuse trended towards an association. Conclusion Adult trauma patients with PTSD may have more comorbid disorders and mental health symptoms. Childhood trauma may be less critical for the PTSD diagnosis in this group. In clinical practice, personalized treatment plans addressing both the symptom burden and its comorbidities may be beneficial.

The mediating role of neuroticism and anxiety sensitivity in the relationship between childhood trauma and panic disorder severity.

Despite advancements in understanding panic disorder (PD), its etiology and pathogenesis remain elusive, particularly concerning the influence of psychosocial factors. This study aims to explore the mediating roles of neuroticism and anxiety sensitivity (AS) in the relationship between childhood trauma and PD severity. We conducted a cross-sectional analysis involving 84 individuals diagnosed with PD and 112 age- and gender-matched healthy controls (HC). Childhood trauma was assessed using the validated Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ), while anxiety sensitivity levels were measured using the Anxiety Sensitivity Index-3 (ASI-3). Neuroticism was evaluated using the Chinese Big Five Personality Inventory (CBF-PI-B). The severity of PD was determined using the Panic Disorder Severity Scale (PDSS). Statistical analysis encompassed both correlation and mediation techniques to thoroughly examine the relationships among childhood trauma, neuroticism, AS, and PD severity. Individuals with PD exhibited significantly higher CTQ, ASI-3, and neuroticism scores compared to HC (all P<0.05). Within the PD group, strong positive correlations were found between CTQ scores, ASI-3 scores, neuroticism levels, and PDSS scores, with correlation coefficients ranging from 0.336 to 0.504 (all P<0.001). Additionally, our results indicated that neuroticism and AS acted as mediating factors in the relationship between childhood trauma and the severity of PD, with the 95% confidence interval for the indirect effects ranging from 0.028 to 0.116. This study highlights that PD patients exhibit significantly higher levels of childhood trauma, neuroticism, and AS compared to HC. Furthermore, childhood trauma indirectly influences PD severity through a chain mediation involving neuroticism and AS. These findings suggest the importance of psychological factors in moderating the impact of early adverse experiences on the development and progression of PD.

The impact of climate change-related disasters on mental health and epigenetics: a narrative review

Climate change has contributed to an increase in the frequency and intensity of natural disasters such as droughts, wildfires, hurricanes, and floods, leading to both immediate physical harm and long-term mental health consequences. Survivors often experience psychological distress, including anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), as a result of these traumatic events. This narrative review explores the intersection of climate change-related disasters, mental health outcomes, and epigenetic modifications. Specifically, we summarize recent findings on how environmental stressors influence both mental health and epigenetic changes, such as DNA methylation. Emerging evidence suggests that epigenetic mechanisms, particularly DNA methylation, could mediate the effects of climate change-related stress on mental health, potentially contributing to the onset of mental disorders like depression, panic disorder, autism spectrum disorder, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. We also discuss other epigenetic mechanisms, such as histone modifications and non-coding RNAs, and emphasize the importance of longitudinal studies to capture the dynamic nature of epigenetic changes over time. Finally, we propose future research directions to deepen our understanding of the complex relationships between climate change-related disasters, mental health outcomes, and epigenetic mechanisms, which will pave the way for more effective mental health interventions and policy integration.

Evaluating Agreement Between Medical Record Diagnoses and Independent Evaluator Diagnoses in a Community-Based Effectiveness Study

ABSTRACT Background Youth anxiety disorders are prevalent but undertreated. Poor diagnostic agreement between clinicians and researchers may contribute to misdiagnosis and mistreatment. However, few studies of diagnostic agreement focus specifically on anxiety disorders. Objective The current study evaluates diagnostic agreement between community clinicians and independent evaluators (IE) associated with a research study. Method IEs administered the Anxiety Disorders Interview Schedule for DSM-5, Child Version, Child and Parent Forms to youth participating in a randomized controlled trial. Diagnostic agreement was assessed using Cohen’s kappas. Youth (N = 103) were about 14.3 years old (SD = 1.6), largely cis-gender female (66%, n = 68), heterosexual (57.3%, n = 59), Hispanic/Latinx (53.4%, n = 55), and White (53.4%, n = 55). Results IEs assigned significantly more diagnoses than community clinicians (t(99)=-12.738, d = 1.66, p < .001). Individual diagnoses were collapsed into diagnostic clusters: anxiety, depression, trauma and stressor, obsessive-compulsive, and behavioral disorders. There was no agreement for anxiety, trauma and stressor, obsessive-compulsive clusters (ks < 0.20). The depression cluster showed minimal agreement (k = 0.28, p < .001), and behavioral disorders showed weak agreement (k = 0.49, p < .001). There was no agreement for four individual anxiety disorder diagnoses (ks < 0.20) except for panic disorder, which had minimal agreement (k = .32, p < .001). Four additional anxiety disorder diagnoses could not be analyzed due to no diagnoses in one or both settings. Discussion This study shows diagnostic agreement is poor between clinicians and researchers, especially for anxiety disorders. Findings suggest that semi-structured interviews can detect diagnoses that are being missed by clinicians. Future work should seek to identify and address barriers to implementation of evidenced-based assessments in community settings.

A Short-Term Group Telehealth Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Intervention for Youth with Autism and Anxiety: A Pilot Study.

Background: Children with autism often present with comorbid anxiety disorders. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is an effective, evidence-based approach to treating anxiety, but information on youth with autism and anxiety is limited. Coping Cat is a 16-week CBT intervention for children with anxiety but its use in a group telehealth format in an urban, predominantly Hispanic population is limited. Objectives: (a) To examine the feasibility and preliminary effectiveness of a short-term CBT telehealth group for youth with autism and anxiety disorders in an urban, predominantly Hispanic population and (b) to examine satisfaction with the intervention. Methods: Single-arm pilot study that consisted of a 16-week telehealth CBT group therapy was based on a modified Coping Cat curriculum. Youth with autism and anxiety disorders who were on a waitlist for psychotherapy at an urban developmental center were invited to participate. Anxiety was assessed pre- and posttreatment using the Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders, parent and self-report. Results: Eighteen children were enrolled; 16 children completed the program. Mean age was 11 ± 2.5 years (8-15 years); 89% males, 61% Hispanic. There was a significant reduction in pre-post intervention in symptoms of overall anxiety (parent: 41.0 ± 18.5 to 31.0 ± 16.3 p ≤ 0.003, self: 25.9 ± 12.8 to 14.1 ± 7.8 p ≤ 0.001), panic disorder (parent: 8.1 ± 7.0 to 4.1 ± 4.2 p = 0.013, self: 5.1 ± 4.8 to 0.8 ± 0.9 p = 0.004), and separation anxiety disorder (parent: 7.5 ± 4.8 to 5.7 ± 4.4 p = 0.041, self: 5.8 ± 3.3 to 3.8 ± 2.4 p = 0.018) as per parent and self-reports. Self-report data also revealed a significant reduction in symptoms of social anxiety disorder (6.5 ± 3.5 to 3.9 ± 2.7 p ≤ 0.001). Parents and children reported satisfaction with the group. Conclusion: In this small, predominantly Hispanic population of youth with autism and anxiety disorder, 89% of families were compliant with a group telehealth CBT intervention. Parents and youth reported a significant reduction in anxiety symptoms and program satisfaction. A modified group CBT program via telehealth represents a feasible intervention for youth with autism and anxiety disorders.

Exploring the impact of opioids on serum chemistry: Insights from FT-Raman spectroscopy and biochemical analysis

Opioids are drugs whose use has increased dramatically over the last two decades. Opioids are a family of drugs that includes the illegal drug heroin, synthetic opioids such as fentanyl, and painkillers that are legally available on prescription. Unfortunately, too long use of these drugs can lead to addiction, which might cause disturbed physiological and mental effects. Regular opioid usage might cause common mental disorders such as depression, anxiety, and panic disorder. However, there is still no rapid detection method to describe the chemical changes caused by the Opioid use disorder. For this reason, this study used conventional FT-Raman spectroscopic techniques with multivariate analysis to detect chemical changes in serum following opiate administration. In the FT-Raman spectrum collected from opioid-addicted patients, significant shifts of peaks at 892 cm−1, 966 cm−1, 1286 cm−1, 1459 cm−1 and 2940 cm−1 were visible in comparison with the spectrum of serum collected from the control group. Furthermore, changes in the ratio of amides and lipids were observed in the non-control group, suggesting that opioids could cause structural changes in the compounds. Synchronous spectra show auto peaks at 2914 cm−1, 3415 cm−1 while asynchronous negative cross area between 1005 cm−1 and 1800 cm−1 and around 3000 cm−1 indicate higher presence of polysaccharides and amides in comparison with other compounds in serum collected from non-control group. Finally, the PCA model, utilizing three components that explain 94.89 % of the data variation within the 300–3700 cm⁻¹ range, demonstrates excellent performance. The ensemble classification method achieves accuracies of 97.96 % and 95.00 % on the training and test datasets, respectively. Furthermore, the method achieves AUC-ROC scores of 1.00 and 0.99 for the training and test sets, effectively distinguishing between control and opioid-addicted individuals.

Direct and rapid detection of serum amino acid and monoamine neurotransmitters to assist the diagnosis of panic disorder

Direct and rapid detection of serum amino acid and monoamine neurotransmitters to assist the diagnosis of panic disorder